Ditching-machine.



' M. c. McLAUGHLlN.

DITCHLNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 050.14. 1915.

Patented Mar. 4, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEE[ I.

M. C. McLAUGHUN.

DITCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 14. ms.

1 296302 Patented Mar. 4, 1919.

HFFIQE- ME -vii c, mmu m or Marinnrinivricnfdhii.

j DITCI-IING-MAGHINE.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it knownthat I, MELVIN C. MOLAUGH- LIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marlette, 'in the .county ,of Sanilac, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ditching-Machines; and I do hereby a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same. V

The present invention is directed to improvements in ditching machines, and has for its object to provide a machine of this type capable of being propelled across the field for digging ditches for receiving drain tiles. V

A. further object of the invention is to provide a ditching machine constructed in such a manner that the excavated earth will be conveyed to one side ofthe machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ditching machine so constructed that the same can be regulated to excavate ditches of difierent depth. 1

With these and other objects in view, this invention resides in the novel features of construction, formation, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the ma chine.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing 1 indicates the frame, which consists of upper and lower side sills 2 and 3, respectively, held in spaced relation by the end bars 4, brackets 5, and shaft 6. The shaft 6 is journaled on the vertical bars 7 which connect the rear ends of the sills 2 and 3 while the brackets 5 are fixed, by bolts 8, to the vertical bars 9 which connect the forward ends of the $1118 2 and 3.

Fixed to the shaft 6 is a wheel 10 which I Specification of Letters Patent. 1 Application filed December 14, 1915. Serial No. ,66,827.

declare the following to be Patented-Mar. 4., 1919.

supports the rear end of the frame 1, the forward end of which is supported by the wheel11 rotatably mounted in the framell. Theframe 11 is providedwithaspindle 12 rotatably engaged in the sleeve ,12 supported vertically by the brackets 5. Toggle links 13 connectthe 12, and have connected thereto the forward end of a link 14. Mounted on the sill 2 is a racket segment 15, having pivotally associated therewith a hand lever 16, the lower end of which is pivotally 'connected tothe rear .end of the link 14.

Thus it will be seen that uponshifting of the lever 16the link as to raise or lower spindle 12, whereby the front of the maspindle 12 and sleeve 14 will be shifted so the, sleeve 12 on the chine may be tilted upwardlyor downwardly. I

Supported between the sills 2 and 3 of the frame is an elevator frame 18 which has journaled in its sidebars upper and lowershafts 19 and 20, respectively, each of which is provided at its ends with sprocket wheels ,21, and trained around the sprocket wheels are endless sprocket chains 22 which support the transverse flights 23, formed .from suitable sheet metal. Supported below the side bars of the elevator frame 18, and intermediate the ends thereof, is a shaft 24, provided with sprockets 25, alined with the sprockets 26 fixed to the shaft 6, and trained around said sprockets are drive chains 27 for rotating the shaft 24.

Fixed to the outer ends of the shaft 24 are sprocket wheels 28, the teeth of which engage the links of the sprocket chains 22, thereby causingthe chains to travel when the sprocket wheels 28 are rotated. The sprocket wheels 28 are provided with radial slots 29 which are adapted to be engaged by the ends of the flights 23.

Pivotally connected to the lower ends of the side bars of the elevator 18 is a scoop 30, provided with a point 31 for engaging the earth. Adjusting bars 32 have their lower ends pivotally connected to the scoop, and are connected in any suitable manner to the sills 3, whereby the scoop may be adjusted to regulate the cutting depth of the point 31.

A chute 33 is suitably upper end of the elevator 18 so that the earth from the elevator may be discharged at one side of theditch during the ditching operation.

Journaled transversely of the'si1ls2 shaft 34, the lower end of whichis provided With a ground Wheel 35, Whi'oh'serves' the shaft to rais e or lower the Wheel 36 so that the [tilted position of the frame can' be regulated,

V Supported by the'sills 2 and 3 of the frame are vertically disposed rollers 37, which e11 gage the sides of'the ditch during the operaiQno h I achine so as to prevent the saline from tiltmg.

VELH

inl o osen ing earth. I

seen that a ditching machine has been ro;

ided soponstructed, that the front thereof be, raised or lovvered to regulate the cut depth ofthe scoop. It'fvvill be further notedthat the machine necessitates the use 7 of t Wo supporting heels .10 and 11, which are aimed, thus greatly reducing theexpen'se of the machine, but in no Way aflecting the" r 7 operation thereof. v Qln 'operationthe' ground Wheel 35. is ad-,

7 jiifsted 'so that it Will run upon the ground F one the foregoing 'deseri' ino'n it will be adjacent the side of the ditch being dug, and canbelocked vin adjusted positions upon i ingothel ve i WVhat is claimed is In ama h n ,Q .t sshe e described,

a vertioally" disposed ffanie, a ground Wheel mounted at the longitudinal center of said frame at'its rear end, a front guide Wheel forwardly of the frame, a bracket mounted on the forward end of the frame-and hav- 1 ing:a vertically disposed sleeve at the longitudinal center of said frame, a Wheeled fork supporting the front guide Wheel and having a stem slid'ably rotatably journal'ed in the sleeve, a' toggle pivotally connected for vertical movement to the sleeve and loosely connected Withthe stem of the fork for imparting sliding: movement thereto and permitting free rotationof the same, ha'n-l operable means mounted -in theframe' and connected" with the toggle to operatej the same, a side Wheel arranged medially of the frame at one side thereof a support hori-.

zontally pivoted in lthefranie andforming a journal for the sidewh'eel', means for moving said support, and means for locking the first and last named means in adjusted position. 7 c

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two-Witnesses. J i

I ELVIN O. MGLA'UGHLIN. WVitnesses: v '7 HUGH CAMPBELL; HUGH' C; MoRRI's.

(165m; of this idem my be obtained for five cents each b y addressing the Commissioner of Patents. r Washington, I). G. 

